IAU vs. PHYS
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and Sprott Physical Gold Trust (PHYS).
IAU is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Gold Bullion. It was launched on Jan 28, 2005.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: IAU or PHYS.
Key characteristics
| IAU | PHYS | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 25.03% | 25.80% |
| 1Y Return | 34.92% | 34.77% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 12.43% | 12.07% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 11.52% | 10.97% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 7.45% | 6.99% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 2.43 | 2.42 |
| Daily Std Dev | 14.39% | 14.36% |
| Max Drawdown | -45.14% | -48.16% |
| Current Drawdown | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Correlation
The correlation between IAU and PHYS is 0.93, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Performance
IAU vs. PHYS - Performance Comparison
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with IAU having a 25.03% return and PHYS slightly higher at 25.80%. Over the past 10 years, IAU has outperformed PHYS with an annualized return of 7.45%, while PHYS has yielded a comparatively lower 6.99% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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Risk-Adjusted Performance
IAU vs. PHYS - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and Sprott Physical Gold Trust (PHYS). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Dividends
IAU vs. PHYS - Dividend Comparison
Neither IAU nor PHYS has paid dividends to shareholders.
Drawdowns
IAU vs. PHYS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IAU drawdown since its inception was -45.14%, smaller than the maximum PHYS drawdown of -48.16%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAU and PHYS. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
IAU vs. PHYS - Volatility Comparison
iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a higher volatility of 3.81% compared to Sprott Physical Gold Trust (PHYS) at 3.35%. This indicates that IAU's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PHYS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.